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Critic Reviews
100
If recent yapping and yelping new guitar bands have been making you reach for your Creedence albums, Attack and Release is the record you've been pining for.
8y
100
Attack & Release has just rendered the White Stripes completely irrelevant.
10y
91
Somehow the quirks enhance the power of the desolation at the Keys’ core, and prove that gut-grabbing and ear-stroking needn’t be mutually exclusive
9y
90
Attack and Release, which marries Burton’s production ingenuity with Carney and Auerbach’s intense rock prowess, harbours one of the finest collection of tracks that will be released this year
13y
90
Not only have The Black Keys found a new sound, that’s still uniquely them, but they’ve also polished their song writing to go with it.
9y
80
Attack & Release is the sound of Auerbach and Carney doing some slight tweaking… alright, a nearly complete overhaul of their musical philosophy.
15y
80
A sonic blast that'll clear the cobwebs off your dusty stereo.
5y
80
Danger Mouse asked the pair to write songs for Ike Turner and ended up producing the best album of their career so far.
Print Only
3y
75
Maneuvering between the King of Rhythm's joie de vivre and their crestfallen, crossroads-blues heritage, Attack and Release subtly expands the Black Keys sound.
15y
70
In the end we’re left with a solid, sympathetically-performed record that only intermittently comes to life, which is either a subtle victory or a hollow triumph of taste over gutbucket soul, depending on which way you look at it.
15y
70
The album finds the duo looking far beyond themselves and their single guitar and drum kit for the first time.
11y
70
Burton was drafted to produce the next album by the group from Akron, Ohio, and the result is the Keys' most multicolored set.
11y
70
Attack & Release shows maturity in the Black Keys sound. There are some forgettable tracks on the album, but if you like good rock music without a lot a fuss, pick up Attack & Release. Also, check out the Black Keys live any chance you get.
13y
70
Mostly the Keys just staple stuff to their good ol' R&B raunch and let 'er rip.
13y
70
To be sure, it's an accomplishment and one that showcases the Black Keys' deepening skills but at times it's hard not to miss how the duo used to grab a listener by the neck and not let go.
13y
67
The Black Keys suddenly find a way around their self-imposed restrictions.
13y
60
Although the influences of hip-hop's bite, soul's warmth and bluegrass's tenderness grow stronger with each listen, it's hard not to feel stuck in the swamp.
10y
60
Further progress down this path—and by “this path” I mean the one laid out by Danger Mouse—could turn these dark, witty musicians into failed sonic philosophers, a sort of drunk man’s Vines. And nobody needs that.
11y
60
Danger Mouse's effect is apparent, the sparse guitar-and-drums template fleshed out with organ and banjo.
Print Only
2y
40
Diversifying their palette would seem like a good idea, but Attack & Release proves that the more straightforward the better.
Print Only
2y
40
The pair have, to all intents and purposes, been trading on the same ideas their whole career.
5y
All You Ever Wanted is easy listening but not super stand out. I Got Mine has a nice bluesy riff that's pretty good, definitely a solid track.
Strange Times is still a really nice track, it was the first song I'd heard by the band. Great riff and energy. I like the piano in the chorus.
I like psychedelic influence on Remember When (Side A) were in a bit of a lull though as the songs are all pretty good but run together a bit at this point in the record. Side B definitely is a little more in ... read more
The black keys have never really sat too highly with me, they’ve always felt as though they’ve tried too hard to bring back a style that quite frankly should have stayed dead (that style being true blue rock), but they always manage to deliver a handful of legitimately great songs here and there. And this album is no exception, just too bombastic for its own good.
Standout: Oceans and Streams
Favs: Strange Times
Least fav: Psychotic Girl
I think this was the first Black Keys album I heard, it's catchy and they expand their sound to other genres, but it sounds more like middle step to evolution than a real vision behind it
Worst and most laughable headline/review I’ve ever read “Attack & Release has just rendered the White Stripes completely irrelevant.” lol. This was decent tho.
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Track List
| 1 | All You Ever Wanted 2:55 | 71 |
| 2 | I Got Mine 3:59 | 85 |
| 3 | Strange Times 3:10 | 82 |
| 4 | Psychotic Girl 4:10 | 80 |
| 5 | Lies 3:59 | 72 |
| 6 | Remember When (Side A) 3:21 | 65 |
| 7 | Remember When (Side B) 2:10 | 75 |
| 8 | Same Old Thing 3:10 | 71 |
| 9 | So He Won't Break 4:14 | 79 |
| 10 | Oceans & Streams 3:26 | 78 |
| 11 | Things Ain't Like They Used to Be 4:34 | 75 |
Total Length: 39 minutes
Year End Lists
| #12 | / | Beats Per Minute |
| #15 | / | Rolling Stone |
| #20 | / | Consequence of Sound |
| #40 | / | MOJO |
| #45 | / | NME |
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Comments (2)
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1mo
always funny when i try to reply to people and it turns out I'm blocked, like wtf i don't even know you avg_music_enjoy if that is your REAL name
